7 Delicious Christmas Cake Recipes Everyone Will Love
Let’s be honest — Christmas without cake feels like a meeting that could’ve been an email. The smell of butter, cinnamon, and sugar in the oven?
That’s holiday therapy right there. Every bite of a Christmas cake carries nostalgia — it’s warm, indulgent, and unapologetically festive.
I’ve been baking for years (and occasionally burning things, but that’s another story), and nothing gets me more excited than pulling out those recipes that make people go “Oh wow, who made this?”
So today, we’re going all in with seven mouthwatering Christmas cake recipes that will make you the hero of your holiday table.
Whether you’re into the classic fruitcake, creamy cheesecakes, or something chocolatey enough to cause minor emotional attachment — I’ve got you covered.
Grab your apron, preheat that oven, and let’s bake something that actually makes you look forward to the in-laws visiting.
1. Classic Christmas Fruitcake (That People Will Actually Eat)
Ah yes, the infamous fruitcake — the dessert that’s been unfairly mocked for decades. But here’s the thing: when done right, this cake is heavenly.
Moist, boozy, and packed with flavor, it’s basically Christmas in edible form.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups mixed dried fruits (raisins, currants, cranberries, chopped dates)
- 1 cup candied orange peel
- ½ cup dark rum or brandy
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 cup butter (room temperature)
- 4 large eggs
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- ½ tsp nutmeg
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ cup chopped nuts (almonds or walnuts)
Instructions:
- Soak your dried fruits in rum overnight. (Yes, overnight — patience builds flavor.)
- Cream together butter and brown sugar until fluffy. Add eggs one at a time.
- Mix in flour, baking powder, and spices.
- Fold in soaked fruits and nuts.
- Bake at 325°F (160°C) for about 75–90 minutes.
- Once cooled, brush with rum again (optional, but also not optional).
Pro tip: Wrap it in foil and “feed” it with a spoon of rum every few days until Christmas. It’s like aging fine wine — but tastier.
2. Chocolate Peppermint Cake: The Cool Kid of Christmas Desserts
If the fruitcake is your traditional aunt, this one’s the trendy cousin who shows up with perfect hair and peppermint bark. Chocolate and peppermint are a match made in holiday heaven — rich, minty, and impossible to stop eating.
Ingredients:
- 1¾ cups flour
- ¾ cup cocoa powder
- 1½ tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 2 cups sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup buttermilk
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 1 tsp peppermint extract
- 1 cup hot coffee (trust me, it enhances the chocolate flavor)
Frosting:
- 2 cups whipped cream or buttercream
- 1 tsp peppermint extract
- Crushed candy canes for topping
Instructions:
- Combine dry ingredients in a bowl.
- Mix wet ingredients in another, then slowly combine.
- Add hot coffee last — the batter should be slightly thin.
- Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 30–35 minutes.
- Frost and sprinkle crushed candy canes for that “Pinterest-worthy” look.
FYI: This one pairs ridiculously well with hot cocoa or Irish coffee. Don’t ask me how I know.
3. Gingerbread Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
You can’t talk about Christmas without gingerbread. But instead of little men with questionable smiles, try this gingerbread cake that’s fluffy, spiced, and crowned with tangy cream cheese frosting.
Ingredients:
- 2½ cups flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 2 tsp ground ginger
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- ½ tsp cloves
- ½ cup molasses
- ½ cup butter
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup hot water
Frosting:
- 8 oz cream cheese
- ½ cup butter
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions:
- Cream butter and sugar; add eggs and molasses.
- Mix dry ingredients separately, then combine with wet.
- Add hot water and stir gently.
- Bake at 350°F for 35–40 minutes.
- Cool before slathering on that dreamy frosting.
IMO, this one’s so comforting it could replace your weighted blanket.
4. Eggnog Bundt Cake: Boozy, But Make It Classy
Eggnog is one of those things people either love or pretend to love. But when it’s baked into a cake, suddenly everyone’s a fan. This eggnog bundt cake is light, fluffy, and full of that holiday spice goodness.
Ingredients:
- 2½ cups flour
- 2 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp nutmeg
- ½ tsp cinnamon
- 1 cup butter
- 1½ cups sugar
- 3 eggs
- 1 cup eggnog
- 1 tsp rum extract
Glaze:
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 tbsp eggnog
- Pinch of nutmeg
Instructions:
- Beat butter and sugar until creamy. Add eggs and rum extract.
- Mix dry ingredients, alternate adding them with eggnog.
- Pour into greased bundt pan and bake at 350°F for 45–50 minutes.
- Drizzle glaze once cooled.
Ever wondered why this cake works so well? It’s the combo of eggnog’s rich creaminess and a hint of nutmeg that screams “holiday cheer.” Serve this and watch guests go silent mid-bite.
5. Cranberry Orange Cake: Tart, Sweet, and Totally Underrated
Cranberries often get sidelined at Christmas dinner — until you turn them into this cranberry orange cake masterpiece. It’s fresh, tangy, and perfectly balanced by the sweetness of orange zest.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
- ¾ cup butter
- 1 cup sugar
- 3 eggs
- Zest of 1 orange
- ½ cup orange juice
- 1½ cups fresh cranberries
Instructions:
- Cream butter and sugar. Add eggs and orange zest.
- Mix dry ingredients and alternate adding orange juice.
- Fold in cranberries and bake at 350°F for 40 minutes.
Tip: Glaze it with orange icing or dust with powdered sugar for a snowy effect. This one’s pure elegance — like the Mariah Carey of cakes.
6. White Chocolate Raspberry Cake: For When You Want to Impress
This cake looks fancy, tastes luxurious, and yet is surprisingly easy to pull off. The combination of white chocolate and raspberry is delicate but festive — like wearing a red velvet dress to Christmas brunch.
Ingredients:
- 2½ cups flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 cup sugar
- 4 eggs
- 1 cup melted white chocolate
- ½ cup butter
- ½ cup milk
- 1 cup raspberries
Frosting:
- 8 oz cream cheese
- 1 cup white chocolate (melted)
- 2 cups powdered sugar
Instructions:
- Mix butter, sugar, and eggs until smooth.
- Add white chocolate and milk.
- Fold in dry ingredients and raspberries.
- Bake at 350°F for 35–40 minutes.
- Frost with creamy white chocolate icing.
You know that cake people can’t stop photographing before eating? Yeah, this is that one.
7. Sticky Toffee Pudding Cake: The Cozy Finale
We’re wrapping things up with a British classic — sticky toffee pudding cake. It’s dense, rich, and drenched in a buttery toffee sauce that could make anyone believe in miracles.
Ingredients:
- 1½ cups pitted dates
- 1 cup boiling water
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 cup flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ cup butter
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 2 eggs
Toffee Sauce:
- ½ cup butter
- 1 cup brown sugar
- ¾ cup heavy cream
Instructions:
- Soak dates in boiling water and baking soda for 10 minutes.
- Blend to a smooth paste.
- Mix butter and sugar, then add eggs and date paste.
- Stir in flour and baking powder.
- Bake at 350°F for 30 minutes.
For the sauce: melt butter, add sugar and cream, then simmer until thick. Pour over warm cake — preferably while you’re still standing over the pan with a spoon.
Ever tasted something that makes you immediately rethink your life choices? That’s this cake.
Bonus Tips for Perfect Christmas Cakes
Because let’s face it, a good recipe still needs good execution.
- Measure accurately: Baking isn’t a vibe — it’s chemistry.
- Room temperature ingredients: Helps everything mix evenly.
- Don’t overmix: Or you’ll end up with rubber instead of cake.
- Use good-quality extracts: Vanilla or rum extract can make or break the flavor.
- Cool completely before frosting: Or your icing will turn into a slip ‘n slide.
Conclusion
And there you have it — seven Christmas cake recipes that’ll make your holidays unforgettable. Whether you go classic with fruitcake or bold with peppermint chocolate, each one promises a slice of joy (and possibly a food coma).
Personally, I bake at least three of these every December — mostly to “test” them, you know, for quality control purposes. So go ahead, pick one (or all seven), throw on your favorite Christmas playlist, and fill your kitchen with the kind of magic only butter and sugar can make.
After all, Christmas calories don’t count, right?
